It became obvious that there is an enormous difference in the level of services and products that are being offered in the different countries by housing companies. As a result of mismanagement in the past the Dutch housing sector has been extremely limited in what they can do. In Sweden and Germany there seems to be a balance in what housing companies can do and what they cannot do. In England and France housing companies probably have most freedom to offer a range of products and services. In these last countries housing companies are often set up in a group structure. The general feeling was that the Dutch definition is too tight currently where it was also felt that in France and even more in England the housing companies seem to have taken over responsibilities from local governments. Both situations can bring some risks.